Control apparatus



Dec. 16, 1947 *E MCCOY 2,432,919

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Deo. 9, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l l v v Dec. 16, 1947. c. E. MocoY Y 2,432,919

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1944 s sheets-sheet 2 mil@ De@ 16, 1947. d c. E. MCCOY 2,432,919

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 CONTROL Cla-rence E. McCoy, Clarendon Hills, Ill., assignor lto Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 9, 1944, Serial No. 567,509

This .invention relates to control apparatus and Vmore ,particularly to automatic control apparatus for `hydraulic presses. Y

.It is an ob-ject of the present invention to provide a highly sensitive control apparatus for controlling the operation of a hydraulic press under .the influencent" partsdischarged from the press.

In accordance wthone embodimentof the invention, a hydraulic molding Apress is provided with acontrol circuit lfor lautomatically supplying iuid to actuate Vthe press, which controlcircuit operates under the control of articles discharged irom the press and includes a tiltable article-receiving tray or table positioned to receive :anarticle discharged from the press and `mounted .on a pantograph type leverage mechanism adapted to beactuated by the weight of the articleto carry thetable to a position to be tilted .onythe-next stroke of the press whereby vvery light articles may be effective to control the press Circuit. Afcomplete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following detailed de- ;-scr'iption when considered in conjunction with `the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. lis a diagrammatic view, partly in cross section, of a molding Apress equipped witha .control device .made in accordance with'the `present invention;

Eig. 2 is a plan viewshowing the table or tray forreceivfing `a molded article from the'pressand the supportingbracket for thetable;

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantiallyA along the line 3-3 of Fig..2 inthe direction of the arrows showing AaY detail of ,the support mechanism for the ytiltable `table;

:E ig. ,4 Vis `a fragmentary detail view, .partly in section, of another portion of the table supporting'm'ech'anism taken substantiallv along the line Ildof Fig. 2 in the dire'ctionof the arrows;

Fig. .5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 showinga detail ofa switching mechanism operable by the table; and

,Figs..6 and '7 Yare vertical sectional views taken substantially along the line 16---5 of Fig. 2 in the ,direction-of the arrows y.and showing the tablein its upper and lowerpo'sitions. respectively.'

Referringfnowto the drawings, wherein `like reference ,characters designate the same parts vthroughoutthe several views. particular reference lbeing' first had toI Fig. V1. it willbe seen that applicantsapparatus is adapted. for use with a molding press of the type comprised of suitable standardsgII joinedb-y a Across head I2 and having a 2 Claims. (Cl. 18-l6) 42 resilient press 4bed I3 interposed between them. 'The press bed carries the usual die block I4 vadapted to cooperate with a movable die member i5 mounted upon the llowerend of a piston rod I6. 'The piston rod I6 is yconnected to a piston I'I adapted to be reciprocated in a .cylinder `I;8 suitably mounted on the cross head l2." The cylinder lI 8 may have fluid under vpressure ,-fedto either f its upper or lower end by an vupper ieed .pipe |19 yor -aflower `feed pip-e 20, vwhich are supplied with iiuid under pressure through va -four-way `valve '2I having Ian inlet pipe 22 and ,an .outlet 'pipe ;23

`connectilol'eV to either one of the upper yor :lower ee'dpipe's "The valve`2.l -is of the solenoidactuatedtype'having a control lever .24 suitably .connected to ra -(core 'member `25 associated Vwith a pair of solenoid coils 126 `and 2l. The solenoid coils 125 Vand "21T are connected to a timingmechan ism 28 loi `any suitable type adapted to supply current alternately' to the two "solenoid coils :25 and 2S lto effect the automatic operation of the The :timer 28 operates undercontrol of fa momentary 'Contact start switch 29 and a 'pair oi contacts Hand, uponclosure'ofthe switch 29,

the timerwill start 'tooperata YThe timer con- -tr`olsjthesupply current to'the coil 21 for operating the yalve 2,I"-tol feed fluid under 'pressure through thejpipe ZIltothe lower vend of the vcylinder 'I8 :to raise fthe movable die' member I5. W hen the press 4 hasjbeen loaded with material to jbegplressed, vthe timer will causethe solenoid -coil [2t-lite be energized, therebylto shift valve l2'I and lfeedjfluidgto the upper end of-the cylinder I8.Y

A"'Il'ierer-may be connected to the timer, in Aany suitable manner.- `a feeding mechanism (not shown) io'rfeeding moldable'material through a nozzle 42 properly aligned with a die "43 in the dieblock I4 and after an articleha-s been formed `between thedie 43and-a cooperating die 44 on thefmovable die member I5, air maybe directed under pressurethrough alnozzle 4I to eject the part introa guide chute 4o suitably positioned at "the'back ofthe press, Inradditio'n to the mechanisrns just described, Ameans are kprovided for rejecting the fp'art 'from the die .43 on the upstroke of the pistonr I1 andrthese means have been illusy,trated asa linkage 45, which will pushamolded partout ofthe die '43 and into the pathof the air from the nozzle 4L The linkage Ilfcarries a ,lever actuating collar A46 which, when the movrable :die ,member 'I5 approaches its `lovvermygast positionwill .engage and actuate a lever 4.1 'nivoted onthepres's standard I I. The lever 411s 1provided with "atslot H9 .adapted to receive a pin 3 55 on a bell crank lever 5|, which is suitably pivoted on the standard I I.

Mounted upon a downwardly projecting portion of the bed I3 is a U-shaped frame 52, which serves to support the chute 40 and in which a trap supporting frame, designated generalgy by the numeral 53, may be mounted. The trap supporting frame 53 comprises a pair of side plates 54 and 55 (Fig. 2), which are joined together adjacent their lower edges by a tubular brace 55 and are joined together adjacent their upper lefthand end (Figs. 6 and '7) by an angle member l. The angle member 51 and tubular brace 55 may be suitably secured to the side plates 54 or 55 in any suitable manner, for example, by welding them together. Adjacent its lower end, the U-shaped frame 52 has a cross brace 58 extending between its sides, upon which the trap supporting frame 53 rests, notches 59 being formed in the side plates 54 and 55 to receive the cross brace 58 and nut and bolt assemblies 68 extending through the sides of the frames 52 and 53 serving to hold the trap supporting frame 53 on the U-shaped frame. In order to more rigidly support the trap supporting frame 53 on the frame 52, S-shaped clamps 95 are attached to the side plates 54 and 55 by means of nut and bolt assemblies 96.

The side plates 54 and 55 are bent adjacent their ends, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, to receive a shaft 6| (Fig. 4) on which a tube 52 is rotatably mounted. Adjacent the lower ends of the outwardly bent portions of the side plates 54 and 55, as seen most clearly in Fig. 4, bearings 63 are attached to the side plates for receiving stud shafts G4. The stud shafts 64 cooperate with the tube 52 to support a pantograph structure comprising two upper levers 65 and two lower levers 66. The levers 65 are freely rotatable about the stud shafts 64, Whereas the levers 65 are attached to the tube 62 in any suitable manner, whereby the tube 62 will rock about its shaft 6I when the levers 6'5 are moved. The rearwardly extending ends of the levers 65 extend through a weight 8l, which is adjustably held on the ends of the levers by nuts 68- threaded onto the ends of the levers. The rearwardly extending ends of the levers 66 are likewise threaded and are adapted to receive two knurled weights 69 and l0, the position of which may be adjusted on the levers 66 to balance the levers, and also'to counterbalance all except one part of several that may be processed simultaneously if the apparatus is set up to process a plurality of parts at one time.

At their right ends, as best shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the levers 65 and 66 are linked together by vertically extending links 80 and the links 8i) are joined together by a flanged cross brace 8l (see also Fig. 3). The upper ends of the links 8E) have apertures formed in them for receiving a shaft 82, which also extends through brackets 84 and the levers 55. Similarly, the lower ends of the links 8D have apertures formed in them in alignment with apertures in the forward or right end of the levers 66 (Figs. 6 and 7) for receiving a shaft 8S, The brackets 84 are pivotally mounted on the shaft 82 adjacent the outer end thereof and will thus move vertically when the right ends of the levers 65-and 66 move up or down. Both of the brackets 84 are provided with a series of apertures 85, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3, for receiving the upper end of a contractile spring 86, the lower end of which is attached to the bottom flange of the cross brace 8|. In this manner, the brackets 84 are biased to rock in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, about the shaft 82, but the rocking of the brackets 84 is blocked by an abutment member 81 fixed to the links 88, whereby the bracket 84 is prevented from rocking beyond the position shown in full lines in Figs. 6 and '7 about the shaft 82 in a clockwise direction. The lower left hand corner of each of the brackets 84, as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, is rounded so that the brackets may be rocked counterclockwise against the action of the springs 8B, as will be described hereinafter.

Mounted upon the tube 62 adjacent one end thereof, is a clamp 88 made of non-magnetic material, which is clamped tightly onto the tube and carries a small permanent magnet 88 attached to it adjacent its lower end by means of a screw 80. The permanent magnet 89 will thus be rocked with the tube 62 and will move into operative association with a magnetically operated switch SI. When the clamp 88 rocks with shaft 62 to carry the magnet 89 to operative association with the magnetically operated switch 9|, it will cause the closure of the pair of contacts 30 which compose a part of the magnetically operated switch SI. The contacts 30 are connected to a pair of leads 92, in turn connected to the extending ends of leads 93 leading into a conduit 94, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, to connect the contacts 30 to the start switch 29 and timer 28,

Mounted on the brackets 84, and normally held in a horizontal position thereby is a table or tray IUI, which is adapted to substantially close the bottom of the chute 40, and onto which articles molded in the press will be directed. This table or tray lill will move downwardly in an arcuate path from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7, upon the receipt thereon, of a part ejected from the press and will move downwardly until the right end of the table (Figs. 6 and '7) engages the left hand surface of camming member |52 mounted upon the upper end of the bell crank lever 5|. Upon operation of the bell crank lever 5| by the linkage mechanism, including lever 4l, collar 46, and rod assembly 45, the table II will be tilted counter-clockwise to the position shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 7, as will be described more in detail in connection with the following brief description of the mode of operation of the apparatus. Tilting of the table |0| by camming member |02 will eject a part therefrom and also tend to push the table back to its normal position since the springs will exert pressure to return the plate to a horizontal position.

After a supply of moldable material has been placed in a hopper (not shown) for direction to the press through the nozzle 42 and the platens or die block I4 and die member I5 are heated to a predetermined temperature, the apparatus may be started in operation by closing the switch 29. The cycle of operation of the apparatus starts with the movable die member I5 in approximately the position shown where the piston is almost at the upper end of its travel. Then, upon closure of the start switch 29, the timer 28 will feed current to energize coil 2l and uid under pressure will be supplied to the lower end of the cylinder I8, thus to move the movable die member I5 to its uppermost position. As the movable die member I5 moves to its uppermost position, the material feeding means (not shown) will also be operated under control of the timer 28 and material will be fed through nozzle 42 into the die 43, The timer 28 is so arranged that immediately after the piston 'I reaches its uppermost position, current will be directed from the timer 28 to the coil 2'6 to reverse the valve 2| and start the movable die member |5 moving downwardly. During the movement of the movable die member I5 from its closed position with member I4 -to the position shown in Fig, 1, the rod assembly 45 will eject a processed part from the die 43 and the timer 28 will cause air to be directed under pressure through the nozzle 4| to eject the part or parts from the die 43 into the chute 40, the article or articles having been pushed up out of the cavity by the rod assembly 45.

The part ejected from the die 43 by the blast of air from the nozzle 4| will drop through chute 40 onto the table |0| and Will move the table |0| to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7. Continued downward movement of the movable die member I5 will cause the collar 46 to engage and actuate lever 41 and will thus serve to actuate the bell crank lever 5|. Actuation of the bell crank lever 5| will cause the table |0| to be tilted to slide the part or parts off the table into a suitable container, such as shown at H0. When the table |il| moves from its upper position, as shown in Fig. 6, to its lower position, as shown in Fig. 7, it will rock the tube E2 and move the permanent magnet 89 to a position Where it will close contacts 30 of switch 9|. The timer is so arranged that closure of switch 29 will initiate a cycle of it and the circuit to the timer will then be automatically maintained at all times except during that interval when a part should be resting on the table In' the interval, when the table ||1| should be in its lowermost position, the circuit for maintaining the timer 28 in operation may be closed by the switch 9| and if the contacts 39 of the switch 9| are closed due to the table ||l| moving to its lowermost position, the timer circuit will be maintained and continued cycles of operation of the apparatus will be performed.

As soon as the cam member |02 tilts the table |0| to the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7, the molded part being ejected from the table, the table ||l| will rise to the position shown in Fig. 6. As the timer 28 continues its cycle, the molding of the part will .take place and after a predetermined time, as determined by the setting of the timer 28, the movable die member I will again move upwardly and will be stopped in a position shown in Fig. 1 unless the contacts 30 had been closed by the permanent magnet 90 being rocked under the influence of a part on the table |0|. If the table |0| does not move to the position shown in Fig. 7, the bell crank lever 5| will be rocked by the lever 4l, but it will pass beneath the table IUI. After the table |0| has been tilted to discharge a part from it into the container I0,

it will move to its uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 6, ready to receive a part ejected from the molding die 43.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with an article forming apparatus of a stationary framework, a pair of pantograph levers individually pivoted on said framework, a table supporting member pivotally connected to said levers to move in an arcuate path While held in a vertical position, a table pivoted on said member to receive articles formed in said apparatus, means normally tending to hold said table at right angles to said member during movement of said member, and means operated by the forming apparatus during its operation to form articles for tilting said table with respect to said member from its normal position when the table is in a position to be unloaded, said latter means including a reciprocatory link operable by said forming apparatus, a leverage mechanism, a cam member carried by said mechanism arranged in the path of and engaged by said table as it reaches its unloading position, and an actuator carried by said link for operating said mechanism during operation of said forming apparatus to form articles for tilting said table.

2. The combination with an article forming apparatus of a stationary framework, a pair of pantograph levers individually pivoted on said framework, a table supporting member pivotally connected to said levers to move in an arcuate path while held in a vertical position, a table pivoted on said member to receive articles formed in said apparatus, means normally tending to hold said table at right angles to said member during movement of said member, and means for tilting said table with respect to said member from its normal position when the .table is in a position to be unloaded, said latter means including a reciprocatory link, a leverage mechanism, a cam member carried by said mechanism arranged in the path t of'an'd engaged by said table as it reaches its unloading position, and an actuator carried by said link for operating said mechanism.

CLARENCE E. MCCOY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,371,077 Strauss Mar. 6, 1945 1,538,122 Kurtz et al May 19, 1925 1,824,693 Smith Sept. 22, 1931 2,138,475 Hilton Nov. 29, 1938 

